College Station, TX vs Abilene, TX: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, living costs in Abilene, TX and College Station, TX are within 1% of each other (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in College Station works out to about $74,500 in Abilene, before taxes.
- Housing is 1.7% lower in Abilene, goods 0.0% higher and other services 0.0% higher, which roughly cancel out.
- Typical asking rent is $1,990 a month in Abilene and $1,504 in College Station, $5,832 a year more in Abilene (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $222,000 in Abilene and $305,000 in College Station.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Abilene was 2.2% less expensive than College Station.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Overall prices are about the same in College Station and Abilene
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- College Station, TX
- Abilene, TX
All items College Station, TX: 91.0 Abilene, TX: 90.4
Goods College Station, TX: 93.8 Abilene, TX: 93.8
Housing (rents) College Station, TX: 75.1 Abilene, TX: 73.8
Utilities College Station, TX: 84.4 Abilene, TX: 81.2
Other services College Station, TX: 96.2 Abilene, TX: 96.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | Abilene, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.0 | 90.4 |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 75.1 | 73.8 |
| Utilities | 84.4 | 81.2 |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| Category | College Station | Abilene | Abilene vs College Station |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 91.0 | 90.4 | −0.6% |
| Goods | 93.8 | 93.8 | 0.0% |
| Housing (rents) | 75.1 | 73.8 | −1.7% |
| Utilities | 84.4 | 81.2 | −3.8% |
| Other services | 96.2 | 96.2 | 0.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,504 | $1,990 | +32.3% |
| Typical home value | $305,000 | $222,000 | −27.4% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in College Station | $75,000 | $74,500 | −0.6% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between College Station and Abilene has narrowed since 2008: 2.9 points then, 0.6 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- College Station, TX
- Abilene, TX
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | Abilene, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 95.1 | 92.2 |
| 2009 | 94.3 | 89.4 |
| 2010 | 95.9 | 93.0 |
| 2011 | 95.6 | 92.5 |
| 2012 | 96.5 | 94.1 |
| 2013 | 95.2 | 92.5 |
| 2014 | 95.5 | 94.6 |
| 2015 | 95.9 | 92.9 |
| 2016 | 96.4 | 93.3 |
| 2017 | 94.6 | 93.7 |
| 2018 | 94.6 | 92.3 |
| 2019 | 94.5 | 92.4 |
| 2020 | 95.1 | 90.3 |
| 2021 | 94.9 | 91.7 |
| 2022 | 92.4 | 91.5 |
| 2023 | 91.3 | 90.4 |
| 2024 | 91.0 | 90.4 |
Goods
- College Station, TX
- Abilene, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | Abilene, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 96.4 | 96.5 |
| 2009 | 94.5 | 94.5 |
| 2010 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2011 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| 2012 | 96.2 | 96.3 |
| 2013 | 96.6 | 96.6 |
| 2014 | 96.7 | 96.5 |
| 2015 | 96.0 | 96.0 |
| 2016 | 96.6 | 96.4 |
| 2017 | 96.3 | 96.4 |
| 2018 | 94.4 | 94.4 |
| 2019 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2020 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2021 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
| 2022 | 93.7 | 93.7 |
| 2023 | 92.9 | 92.9 |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 93.8 |
Housing (rents)
- College Station, TX
- Abilene, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | Abilene, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 84.4 | 69.6 |
| 2009 | 87.4 | 64.0 |
| 2010 | 87.1 | 72.2 |
| 2011 | 85.9 | 70.3 |
| 2012 | 89.2 | 74.6 |
| 2013 | 83.1 | 69.9 |
| 2014 | 82.8 | 76.9 |
| 2015 | 85.1 | 69.7 |
| 2016 | 85.1 | 71.0 |
| 2017 | 82.4 | 76.7 |
| 2018 | 88.4 | 76.8 |
| 2019 | 85.5 | 75.7 |
| 2020 | 84.2 | 66.3 |
| 2021 | 85.6 | 71.0 |
| 2022 | 79.9 | 75.4 |
| 2023 | 77.6 | 73.6 |
| 2024 | 75.1 | 73.8 |
Utilities
- College Station, TX
- Abilene, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | Abilene, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.4 | 98.5 |
| 2009 | 95.0 | 92.4 |
| 2010 | 94.7 | 93.3 |
| 2011 | 89.8 | 88.8 |
| 2012 | 89.1 | 88.6 |
| 2013 | 90.3 | 89.5 |
| 2014 | 93.3 | 93.3 |
| 2015 | 91.1 | 91.6 |
| 2016 | 87.4 | 87.9 |
| 2017 | 84.2 | 83.8 |
| 2018 | 84.9 | 84.1 |
| 2019 | 87.2 | 85.6 |
| 2020 | 86.8 | 85.7 |
| 2021 | 86.5 | 85.3 |
| 2022 | 88.5 | 87.0 |
| 2023 | 89.1 | 88.8 |
| 2024 | 84.4 | 81.2 |
Other services
- College Station, TX
- Abilene, TX
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | Abilene, TX | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 97.8 | 97.9 |
| 2009 | 97.1 | 97.0 |
| 2010 | 98.9 | 98.9 |
| 2011 | 99.7 | 99.6 |
| 2012 | 100.3 | 100.3 |
| 2013 | 99.9 | 99.9 |
| 2014 | 100.0 | 99.9 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2016 | 101.4 | 101.2 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 99.5 |
| 2018 | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| 2019 | 96.9 | 96.9 |
| 2020 | 99.3 | 99.3 |
| 2021 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2022 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 95.8 | 95.8 |
| 2024 | 96.2 | 96.2 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,990 in Abilene vs $1,504 in College Station
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- College Station, TX
- Abilene, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | Abilene, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $972 | $831 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $994 | $847 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $992 | $845 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $1,015 | $850 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $1,026 | $852 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $1,031 | $864 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,014 | $863 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,031 | $860 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,066 | $881 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,063 | $903 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,023 | $893 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,054 | $904 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,076 | $915 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,057 | $933 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,032 | $934 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,064 | $938 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,093 | $950 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,082 | $978 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,076 | $973 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,099 | $986 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,118 | $1,000 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,101 | $1,016 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,109 | $1,034 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,145 | $1,054 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,153 | $1,074 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,159 | $1,093 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,204 | $1,139 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,232 | $1,147 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,246 | $1,171 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,271 | $1,211 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,306 | $1,237 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,332 | $1,232 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,345 | $1,253 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,358 | $1,284 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,367 | $1,283 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,392 | $1,275 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,403 | $1,287 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,409 | $1,321 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,445 | $1,343 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,455 | $1,342 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,464 | $1,367 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,460 | $1,458 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,506 | $1,542 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,518 | $1,714 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,503 | $1,870 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,475 | $2,041 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,504 | $1,990 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $222,000 in Abilene vs $305,000 in College Station
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- College Station, TX
- Abilene, TX
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| College Station, TX | Abilene, TX | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $181K | $122K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $186K | $123K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $191K | $126K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $195K | $128K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $199K | $129K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $203K | $131K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $207K | $132K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $211K | $133K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $215K | $134K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $219K | $134K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $220K | $135K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $222K | $137K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $225K | $139K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $227K | $142K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $230K | $145K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $231K | $146K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $230K | $146K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $228K | $147K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $228K | $147K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $229K | $149K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $231K | $151K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $232K | $152K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $236K | $156K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $242K | $161K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $246K | $166K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $251K | $171K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $258K | $177K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $265K | $182K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $275K | $189K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $285K | $194K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $287K | $195K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $288K | $196K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $292K | $196K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $298K | $198K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $300K | $199K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $298K | $198K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $302K | $200K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $304K | $203K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $303K | $201K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $304K | $201K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $305K | $202K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $305K | $201K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $305K | $202K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $305K | $205K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $307K | $211K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $307K | $215K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $305K | $222K | $366K |
More about each city
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.